The Bowie Baysox (56-63) tallied ten runs on twelve hits to take down the Flying Squirrels (56-63)10-4 on Wednesday night at Prince George’s Stadium. Ryan Howard and Caleb Gindl each drilled solo home runs to lead the Squirrels offensively. Bowie’s Aderlin Rodriguez drove home five runs and Richmond committed three errors in the loss. The two teams wrap the series on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Richmond will return to Funnville on Friday, August 17 for a Free Shirt Friday & RVA’s Best Happy Hour. Friday is Grateful Fans night at the ballpark.
Howard (1-5, HR, RBI) and Gindl (1-3, HR, BB, RBI) were overshadowed by Bowie’s Aderlin Rodriguez’ big night. Rodriguez struck for three hits and drove home five.
The Baysox took advantage of some sloppy defensive play in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. With one out, Corban Joseph rolled a ground ball directly to John Polonius, who was shifted in shallow left field. Ryan Mountcastle then drilled a double to the base of the wall in right, setting up the third best run-producer in the Eastern League in Aderlin Rodriguez. The veteran Rodriguez lined a base into right, producing an early 2-0 lead. McCasland was let down again two batters later when a tailormade double play ball was tossed into the home dugout, scoring Rodriguez from second for a 3-0 Bowie advantage.
Bowie’s starting pitcher Brian Gonzalez worked with the lead and retired the first six batters of the game. He kept Richmond off the board until the start of the fourth inning when Ryan Howard drilled a solo home run deep over the left centerfield wall. Howard’s fourth home run of the year made it a 5-1 contest.
Bowie’s Rodriguez owned the night and added another RBI base hit to left in the third and a two-run triple in the fifth. Rodriguez drove in five of the ten Baysox runs I the contest.
McCasland lasted through five innings and suffered the loss. The righty allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits. The righty struck out four, walked two and tossed 91 pitches In the effort.
Dan Slania replaced McCasland and worked 1.2 innings. Slania walked a pair in the seventh and was replaced by left Carlos Diaz with two out in the inning. Diaz relinquished an RBI single to Yusniel Diaz and an RBI base hit to Austin Hays for a 9-3 Bowie lead. Diaz allowed another run before closing out the eight.
Bowie’s Gonzalez tossed 5.2 innings to earn win. Gonzalez allowed a pair of solo home runs and an RBI double to Matt Winn. The lefty struck out four, walked three and use 96 pitches in the victory.
Manager Willie Harris was ejected from the game in the third inning.
The four-game, three-day series concludes from Prince George’s Stadium on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. The Squirrels will send RHP Chase Johnson (1-3, 3.48) to face Bowie RHP Dean Kremer (2-1, 2.45) Richmond will return to Funnville on Friday, August 17 for a Free Shirt Friday & RVA’s Best Happy Hour. Friday is Grateful Fans night at the ballpark. The first 1,5—fans (15+) will receive a free tie-dyed TV shirt presented by Virginia Commonwealth Bank. Tickets and information can be found atwww.squirrelsbaseball.com or by calling 804-359-FUNN
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Chris Graham
